Inflation Lags in April Due to Falling Energy Prices

This morning StatCan released sluggish Consumer Price Index numbers for April. For the year ending in April 2015, the CPI rose 0.8% versus a rise of 1.2% for the year ending in March. This is slightly below analysts’ forecasts; they had expected a 1% increase in prices for the period. While prices are still higher on an annual basis in seven of the eight components of the CPI, transportation prices are down 4.2% for the year ending in April. Transportation accounts for nearly 20% of Canada’s CPI so its decline strongly stifled inflation over this period.

In the April 15 monetary policy report, Governor Poloz noted that inflation, then expected to be around 1%, is behind their 2% target largely due to a fall in gasoline prices. However, the effect of the falling Canadian dollar is estimated to have bolstered inflation between 0.6% and 0.7%. Otherwise, it would be very close to zero.

Underlying Trends

Core inflation provides a better indication of underlying price trends and was stronger than expected in April. Core inflation, which excludes items prone to volatile price changes (fruit, vegetables, gasoline, fuel oil, natural gas, mortgage interest, intercity transportation, and tobacco products), was up 2.3% for the year ending in April compared to 2.4% for the year ending in March. This is higher than the expected 2.1% and points to more healthy economic growth.

Seasonally adjusted inflation accounts for prices that tend to vary throughout the year. It allows us to better compare monthly price changes. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI fell 0.1% in April after climbing 0.3% in March. Seasonally adjusted core inflation was flat in April following a 0.4% increase in March.

What is Driving Inflation?

On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices fell in three of the major components of the CPI in April, shelter, transportation, and clothing and footwear. Shelter and transportation are the two largest components of CPI and both saw seasonally adjusted prices fall 0.2% in April. In March, shelter costs were up 0.2% and transportation costs were up 0.6%. Clothing and footwear prices fell 0.3% in April, following a similar decline in March.

Recreation, education and reading, which makes up 10.9% of the CPI saw the largest seasonally adjusted monthly increase in prices, rising 0.6%. Food prices also continued to climb in April, posting a seasonally adjusted 0.3% increase for the month. As the third largest component of CPI, higher food prices are currently the primary driver of inflation. Household operations also account for a large portion of Canada’s CPI and saw significant price gains in April.

Consumer Price Index, major components – Seasonally adjusted

% Change March

% Change April

All-items (100%)

0.3

-0.1

Food (16.41%)

0.2

0.3

Shelter (26.08%)

0.2

-0.2

Household operations, furnishings and equipment (13.14%)

0.3

0.4

Clothing and footwear (6.08%)

0

-0.3

Transportation (19.1%)

0.6

-0.2

Health and personal care (4.73%)

-0.2

0.1

Recreation, education and reading (10.89%)

0.4

0.6

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products (2.86%)

0.3

0.5

Bank of Canada’s core index

0.4

0

All-items excluding food and energy

0.3

0.1

Source: CANSIM table 326-0022.

Inflation by Provence

Inflation varied across the provinces as New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador posted 12-month declines in price levels for the year ending in April. These Atlantic provinces are highly dependent on fuel oil to heat their homes. In PEI, household spending on fuel is ten times the national average. Fuel oil prices fell 20% during the 12-month period ending in April.

Inflation was strongest in Saskatchewan at 1.2% and Quebec at 1.1%. Ontario and British Columbia saw lower inflation due to falling natural gas prices. After climbing in March, natural gas prices fell significantly in April.

Consumer Price Index for the provinces and for Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit (not seasonally adjusted)

Relative Importance

% change April 2014 to April 2015

Canada

100.00

0.8

Ontario

38.94

0.8

Quebec

21.6

1.1

British Columbia

13.85

0.5

Alberta

13.2

0.7

Manitoba

3.15

0.9

Saskatchewan

3.01

1.2

Nova Scotia

2.47

0.3

New Brunswick

1.87

-0.1

Newfoundland and Labrador

1.38

-0.4

Prince Edward Island

0.34

-1.2

Whitehorse

0.08

-0.7

Yellowknife

0.08

1.6

Iqaluit

0.03

2

Source: CANSIM tables 326-0020 and 326-0031.

Economic Implications for Canada

According to both the January and April monetary policy reports, the net effect of lower oil prices will be negative for the Canadian economy, especially in the short run. In April’s report, Governor Poloz noted that the ‘impact of the oil price shock is proving to be faster than initially expected, not larger.’ The Bank of Canada expects economic growth to ‘rebound’ in the second quarter and continue to accelerate thereafter.

With the economy at a near stand still during the first quarter, Canada’s output gap has expanded. This means we are operating below full capacity. As we move towards full capacity and close the output gap, inflation should strengthen. Also, as the impact of the oil shock is absorbed, the Bank expects GDP growth of 1.9% in 2015, 2.5% in 2016 and 2% in 2017.

I am a Canadian financial blogger with multiple degrees in economics and extensive professional experience as a financial analyst. I was formerly a PhD candidate at the University of Guelph's School of Agricultural Economics. Before that, I received a MA from the University of San Francisco in International Development Economics. I also have a BA in math with a minor in economics.